Storm causes two deaths, outages, damage

December 8, 2009

CNJ staff photo: Sharna Johnson Tara Wong hands a cup of coffee to Leslie Broussard Tuesday morning at Coffee Depot on 21st Street. Wong said cold weather and overcast skies are good for business. Weather forecasts are calling for a mix of weather today ranging from frost, to sun and snow.

Freedom New Mexico

Wind gusts of more than 60 mph Tuesday downed power lines and damaged several buildings in Clovis.

But unlike deadly consequences in other parts of New Mexico, no injuries were reported in the region.

The storm, packing powerful winds, was blamed for two traffic-related deaths on Monday and damage to White Sands Missile Range’s police station early Tuesday.

Heavy snow — more than a foot in some areas — and winds made travel dangerous in some areas.

At the White Sands range, the roof of the 30,000-square-foot police building was ripped off by wind early Tuesday. Officials said two people were treated for unspecified injuries and released from a clinic.

Winds up to 100 mph were reported between Las Cruces and the missile range.

In Santa Fe, Public Service Company of New Mexico spokesman Don Brown said Tuesday that 4,800 utility customers were without power after strong winds and ice knocked down power lines.

Extra crews were called in from Albuquerque and were working to restore power in phases throughout the day.

Clovis Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Peterson said the department received four calls of downed power lines.

One of the calls was a power pole that fell on the old Pizza Hut building on West Seventh Street.

Peterson said other damage included roof coverings from two garages blown off and a storage barn wall was blown down.

Peterson said no one was hurt.

Strong winds blew through the area with the winds peaking at 62 MPH at 1:37 p.m. in Clovis according the National Weather Service.

Meteorologist Brian Guyer said that winds should subside by today.

Portales Deputy Chief of Police Lonnie Berry said the department had no reports of wind damage in the city.